Easy-opening can end construction

ABSTRACT

An aluminum food product can having an easily-opened can end member seamed to one end of the can body. The can is opened by tearing a removable panel portion from the can end member along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly-projecting shoulder formed in the can body below the seam. The removable panel is torn using a finger pull tab riveted to the panel, and the removable panel has a protective triple metal thickness fold formation at its periphery. Angular outwardly-converging reinforcing beads are formed in the panel beneath the pull tab and on either side of the rivet to stiffen the removable panel in the area of the tab and rivet so as to reduce deformation of and strain on the base of the rivet to a minimum and to lessen the possibility of rivet fracture. The can bends at several areas during removal of the panel portion at locations approximately perpendicular to the pull tab center line radially outward of and also a considerable distance radially inward of the rivet. These bend areas also are generally aligned respectively with the outer and inner ends of the reinforcing beads. During lifting of the pull tab, the removable panel initially bends inward to form a small &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;smile&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; just below the nose of the pull tab. Subsequently, it bends in a bend area at the inner ends of the beads to increase the size of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;smile; &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; and then the panel tears more or less equally along the main score line until completely removed. Thus, the load on the rivet is equally distributed. The compactness of the protective triple fold formation on the removable panel is relieved in a zone beneath and adjacent the tip of the pull tab nose. The combined cooperative relation between the reinforcing beads, their position and location, the location of the bend areas, and the relief of the triple fold beneath the pull tab nose, provides decidedly improved end member opening characteristics.

United States Patent [191 Dragomier et al.

[ June 24, 1975 EASY-OPENING CAN END CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventors: John D. Dragomier; Edgar H.

Zysset, both of Canton, Ohio [73] Assignee: Van Dorn Company, Cleveland,

Ohio

[22] Filed: May 24, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 473,009

[52] US. Cl 220/270; 220/90.6 [51] Int. Cl B65d 17/20 [58] Field of Search 220/269, 270, 271, 272, 220/273, 90.6

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,604,589 9/1971 Fraze 220/270 3,662,916 5/1972 Holk 220/273 3,744,666 7/1973 Heffner 220/269 3,762,596 10/1973 Henning 220/273 3,762,598 10/1973 Gayner 220/273 3,838,788 lO/l974 Stargell 220/270 Primary ExaminerWilliam 1. Price Assistant ExaminerRo E. Hart Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Frease and Bishop [57] ABSTRACT An aluminum food product can having an easilyopened can end member seamed to one end of the can body. The can is opened by tearing a removable panel portion from the can end member along an endless main score line located adjacent and above an inwardly-projecting shoulder formed in the can body below the seam. The removable panel is torn using a finger pull tab riveted to the panel, and the removable panel has a protective triple metal thickness fold formation at its periphery. Angular outwardly-converging reinforcing beads are formed in the panel beneath the pull tab and on either side of the rivet to stiffen the removable panel in the area of the tab and rivet so as to reduce deformation of and strain on the base of the rivet to a minimum and to lessen the possibility of rivet fracture. The can bends at several areas during removal of the panel portion at locations approximately perpendicular to the pull tab center line radially outward of and also a considerable distance radially inward of the rivet. These bend areas also are generally aligned respectively with the outer and inner ends of the reinforcing beads. During lifting of the pull tab. the removable panel initially bends inward to form-a small smile just below the nose of the pull tab. Subsequently, it bends in a bend area at the inner ends of the beads to increase the size of the smile; and then the panel tears more or less equally along the main score line until completely removed. Thus, the load on the rivet is equally distributed. The compactness of the protective triple fold formation on the removable panel is relieved in a zone beneath and adjacent the tip of the pull tab nose. The combined cooperative relation between the reinforcing beads, their position and location, the location of the bend areas, and the relief of the triple fold beneath the pull tab nose, provides decidedly improved end member opening characteristics.

9 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures EASY-OPENING CAN END CONSTRUCTION CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The can end structure is an improvement on the structure shown in copending Stargell application Ser. No. 341,534 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,788, filed Mar. 15, 1973.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to food product cans that are provided with can end members which may be opened easily by tearing a panel portion thereof along an endless score line formed in the can end member, wherein the removed panel portion torn from the can end member has a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at its periphery, wherein the panel portion is torn from the can end member by manipulating a pull ring secured to the panel portion by a rivet, and wherein particularly shaped and located reinforcing beads are formed in the panel portion adjacent the rivet and beneath the pull ring so arranged and located with respect to the rivet and pull ring and also with respect to relieved portions of the triple fold that bend areas result that facilitate removal of the panel portion with a minimum of effort and with reduced rivet strain.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Elimination of hazards stemming from sharp edges on end panel portions torn from full opening can end members frequently made of aluminum has been accomplished by providing a hazard-eliminating triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation at the periphery of the panel portion removed.

The triple fold, however, presents some resistance to the pull applied to a ring pull tab riveted to and used for severing the panel from the can end on a main score line, in order to tear the panel portion around its perip'hery on such score line.

These increased pull requirements present problems as to the metal thickness required for forming the pull ring tab of sheet metal and maintaining necessary stiffness thereof; as to deformation of the rivet connecting the pull tab to the can end; as to the manner and ease and uniformity with which the removed panel tears on the remaining portion of the score line; and as to the ease with which the triple fold formation may be deformed so that the can end may bend easily in several areas during the initial and subsequent stages of pull ring manipulation to tear the panel portion from the can end.

Difficulties have been encountered in attempting to avoid the effect of the complicated combination of circumstances described, in that changes in certain structural arrangements, the provision of reinforcing beads and scored bend lines and their relation with respect to the pull tab rivet, and the sheet metal pull tab design and construction, while satisfying certain difficulties, have created others.

One of the difficulties has been the apparent necessity of redesigning a sheet metal pull ring structure and increasing the metal thickness thereof for greater strength and stiffness. This problem relating to sheet metal pull tab structure and thickness in turn affects the design and operation of high speed can end production machinery. Thus, changes in tab metal thickness as one means of reducing the effect of the difficulties described becomes extremely costly.

Accordingly, the need has arisen for a new can end structure and pull ring riveted thereto having a protective triple fold at the periphery of a removable panel portion in which deformation of the can end metal in the region of the rivet is reduced, and bending of the panel in two areas, one outboard and one inboard of, and spaced considerably from the rivet is facilitated, thereby providing an equal distribution of the tearing force applied to the removable panel to sever the same on the main score line, and thus avoiding an increase in the thickness of metal required for the sheet metal pull ring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing a new can end member and container construction having a full opening removable end wall panel portion provided with a triple fold protected dull edge, which may be torn readily from the can end member along a score line located immediately adjacent the seam between the can body and end member; providing a new can end member construction which readily may be incorporated in prior can end structures of types which were frequently subject to lock-out during attempted removal of the panel or to rivet or pull tab failure, and which avoids the lock-out, rivet and pull tab failure, difticulties; providing a new can end member structure having a protective triple fold on a removed panel portion to which a pull ring is riveted, and having reinforcing beads located in respect of the rivet and other components that a new relationship exists between the reinforcing beads, the rivet and a modified fold arrangement adjacent the nose of the pull ring, such that the removed panel portion may be readily ruptured on and torn on the main score line by easy manipulation of the pull ring; and providing a construction eliminating the described difficulties heretofore encountered, achieving the indicated objectives simply, efficiently, and inexpensively, and solving existing problems and satisfying existing needs in the canned food products field.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the easy opening metal can and can end member construction, the general nature ofwhich may be stated as including an aluminum can end member adapted to be seamed to the side walls of a metal can body by a usual double seam; the end wall having a recessed end panel extending from a recessed corner; the corner being located below the seam and being seated on an inwardly projecting annular shoulder or bead formed in the can body side wall below the seam; an end-panel-defining continuous score line formed in the end wall close to the recessed corner; the can body bead projecting inwardly beyond the score line location so that when the can is torn on the score line for removal of a panel portion, the severed edge remaining on the can is protected by the bead in hazard-free condition; pull ring means for tearing the end panel from the end wall; a protective triple fold formed in the end wall having a first metal layer extending annularly inwardly from the score line, then extending in a second layer reversely outwardly beneath the first layer to a location circumferentially underlapping and extending outwardly beyond the score line location, and then extending in a third layer reversely inwardly beneath the first and second layers and into the can end panel portion; rivet means integral with the removable panel portion securing the pull ring means to the removable panel portion, the pull ring means having a nose overlapping and overlying the score line; there being a first area on which the panel portion bends upon manipulation of the pull ring means and a second area upon which the panel portion bends thereafter; the first and second areas being generally perpendicular to the axis of the pull ring means passing thru the centers of the rivet means and nose; the first bend area being located outboard of the rivet means and the second bend area being located inboard and spaced a considerable distance from the rivet means; angular outwardly converging reinforcing beads formed in the panel beneath the pull ring means on either side of the rivet diverging away from each other in the direction of the center of the panel portion; the first bend area being generally aligned with the outer ends of the reinforcing beads and the second bend area being aligned with the inner ends of the reinforcing beads; and said reinforcing beads preferably being embossed or depressed downwardly in the panel portion to project into the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the improved can end structure of the invention illustrative of the best mode in which applicants have contemplated applying the principles is set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings and is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a can provided with the improved can end construction;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, with parts broken away, of portions of the can end shown in FIG. 1 in the region of the nose of the pull ring;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the pull ring nose removed;

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5, FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 on a smaller scale illustrating more of the structure;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing initial stages of rupturing the removable panel portion of the can end along the score line;

FIG. 8 is a side view, with parts broken away and in section looking in the direction of the arrows 8-8, FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view looking in the direction of the arrows 9-9, FIG. 7, illustrating a bottom view of the parts in the position of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 10-10, FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 11-11, FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12, FIG. 4;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13, FIG. 4;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 14-14, FIG. 1; and

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view looking in the direction of the arrows 15-15, FIG. 6 with the pull tab removed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is illustrated typically in the drawings applied to a small sized can, although the can may be of any one of a number of sizes or capacities or of any one of a number of types made by various manufacturers and which have a continuous score line in a can end member adjacent the double seam of the can body and end wall.

The improved form of can end member construction of the invention includes a can 1, generally of conventional construction, having a cup-shaped body with a bottom wall 2 and side walls 3, to which the can end member, generally indicated at 4, is connected through a seam flange 5 by a usual double seam 6 at the upper or open end of the'side walls 3.

Can end member 4 has a recessed corner 7 at the lower end of the double seam 6, preferaby seated on a ledge or shoulder 8 formed by an inwardly projecting annular bead 9 formed in the side walls 3 below the seam 6. A curved score line 10 is formed in the end member 4 very close to the recessed corner 7.

The score line 10 defines the panel portion 11, which is completely removable from the remainder of the end member 4, when torn or peeled along score line 10 to provide a fully-opened top for the can 1. A pull ring 12 is connected by a rivet 13 with the panel portion 11 and may have any desired construction, such as the construction shown in copending Stargell application Ser. No. 341 ,534. Pull ring 12 preferably is formed of sheet metal of somewhat heavier gauge than the sheet metal of which the can 1 and end member 4 are formed. Members 1 and 4 and also pull ring 12 may be formed of aluminum.

End member 4 may be made in general to include a hazard-eliminating protective triple metal thickness dull edge fold formation 14 at its periphery, such as generally shown in said application Ser. No. 341,534.

Also, the interior of the can and the undersurface of the.

end member 4 maybe provided with suitable coatings, not shown, to withstand the corrosive attack of food products that may be packed in the can 1.

The protective triple fold formation 14 on end member 4 extends completely circumferentially around and radially of any point in its circumference beyond the location of the score line 10. Thus, fold 14 has a first layer 15 extending annularly inwardly from the score line 10, a second layer 16 extending reversely outwardly beneath first layer 15, and a third layer 17 extending reversely inwardly beneath the first and second layers 15 and 16. The curved bend portion 18, between the second and third layers 16 and 17, comprises the outer extremity of the main body of the removable panel portion 11 of the end member 4. The outer edge 18 of fold 14, as stated, extends radially outwardly at any point in its circumference to a location underlapping and beyond the score line 10, as well shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 14.

A recessed trough-like formation 19 is formed in the panel portion 11 annularly around the triple fold 14, and trough 19 connects at annular zone 20 with the central portion 21 of panel 11. Panel portion 21 lies in the sameplane tFlG. 5) as the plane of the first layer 15 of triple fold 14. If desired, a recess 22 may be embossed in the panel portion 11 to facilitate grasping of the pull ring 12 to open the can 1.

Pull ring 12 may have a ring portion 23 and may be lanced with a moon-shaped slot-like lance 24 (FIG. 3) to permit easy flexing as the pull ring 12 is moved from the position shown in FIG. 6, ultimately to the position shown in FIG. 7 for rupturing the end member 4 along the score line 10. Pull ring 12 has a nose 25 which may be V-shaped in cross section, as indicated at 26 in FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11; and pull ring 12 may have an axis passing through the center of the rivet 13 and the center of the V-shaped nose 25.

In accordance with the invention, angular, outwardlyconverging, reinforcing control ribs or beads 27 (FIG. 4) are formed in the panel 11, beneath the pull ring 12, on either side of the rivet 13 diverging away from each other in the direction of the center of the panel 11 and with respect to the pull ring axis, as best shown in FIG. 4.

The outer ends 28 of beads 27 are located preferably at the annular zone 20 of the trough-like formation 19 (FIGS. 4 and 5) and outboard of the rivet 13. The inner diverging ends 29 of beads 27 are located inboard of and are spaced a considerable distance from the rivet 13.

Pull ring 12 has a wall portion 30 (FIGS. 5 and 6) extending from the lance 24 to the V-shaped nose 25, lying generally in a plane parallel with and just above the plane of the fold layer and the plane of central portion 21 of the panel 11. Nose 25 of pull ring 12 just overlaps the main score line 10, as shown in FIG. 5.

In accordance with the invention, that portion of the triple fold 14 just below and in the region of pull ring nose 25 has a different cross-sectional shape than the remainder of the triple fold formation. This different cross-sectional shape is best shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, wherein the triple fold 14 is relieved somewhat with a Z-cross-sectional shape. The second layer 16 is angled with respect to the first and third layers 15 and 17, as shown. The relieved Z-shaped fold area 31, best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, straddles the axis of the pull ring 12 uniformly on either side thereof and may have a length of approximately one-half inch. The triple fold 14, throughout the remainder of its annular extent, is closed or compact with substantially parallel layers 15, 16 and 17, as indicated at 32 in FIG. 14.

The particular location, shape and arrangement of the control beads 27 with respect to the rivet 13, the pull ring nose 25 and the relieved fold area 31 provides a number of advantages in accordance with the invention. First of all, the beads 27 stiffen the metal in the panel 11 in the region of the rivet 13 to relieve or reduce strain on the rivet and pull ring when the pull ring 12 is manipulated to open the can. Next, the Z-shaped relieved fold area 31 reduces the resistance of the triple fold in the area 31 to rupture of the can end metal along the score line 10 in the zone of relieved area 31.

Next, the location of the outer ends 28 of the beads 27 outboard of the rivet l3 and close to the ends of the relieved fold area 31 provides a zone extending between the outer bead ends 28 where the panel portion 11 initially bends at 33 to form an initial small smile, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. This small smile zone 33 also is illustrated in FIG. 7 which shows the final bend zone 34 for the large smile opening, as the end panel tears along score line 10, when the ring portion 23 of pull ring 12 is raised.

Thus, the location of the control beads 27 beneath and covered by the pull ring 12, and the location of the ends 28 and 29 of control beads 27, with respect to the rivet 13 and the relieved Z-shaped fold area 31 provide controlled bending of the end panel 11 during the lever action of the pull ring 12.

It is desirable that the axis of the pull ring 12 be located extending radially of the can end 11, as shown in FIGS. l and 3, so that the pull ring nose 25 is located midway of the ends of the Z-fold area 31. This may be accomplished by providing nonrotative means between pull ring 12 and end member 4. Such means may be provided by forming the opening 35 in the pull ring to be non-circular, as by providing a hexagonal shape (not shown) for the opening 35 wherein the rivet 13 is formed.

Another function of the short relieved-Z-fold area 31 in relation to the outer control bead ends 28 is to reduce the possibility of lock-out by forming the reduced small smile zone 33. The initial small smile also reduces the amount that bent parts of the panel portion 11 enter into the contents of the can, so as to reduce injury to the contents where the contents may comprise semisolid food.

The annular region 36 at the top of the first layer 15 of the triple fold 14 (FIG. 5) is shown as being slightly thinner than the remainder of the metal in the end member 4. This slightly thinner annular region 36 results from a coining operation performed in the formation of the triple fold 14 and score line 10 in end mem-' her 4 during its manufacture. The coined region 36 thus involves some stiffening of the first triple fold layer 15, which stiffening is compensated for by the relieved Z-fold area 31. This avoids increasing the pressure required to be exerted by the pull ring nose 25 when initiating rupture of the metal along score line 10.

The eliminationof requirements for increased pressure incident to the provision of the triple fold formation has enabled sheet metal pull rings 12 to be made of the same metal thickness heretofore used for the manufacture of pull rings riveted to can ends that did not involve a triple fold formation at the main score line. This characteristic of the structure of cans incorporating the concept of the present invention has tremendous commercial impact. Thus, dies and handling equipment in commercial high speed can-making machinery are not required to be radically changed, rebuilt, or modified to accommodate increased tab metal thickness, since the requirement for increased tao metal thickness has been eliminated. 7

Furthermore, the improved construction of the present invention has eliminated any requirement for forming or scoring fold lines in the end member where the smile openings are intended to form on opening the can.

Furthermore, the equally distributed bend or smile which occurs upon opening the can end construction of the present invention is accompanied by an equal distribution of the load on the rivet 13, thus reducing the strain on the rivet base and reducing the possibility of rivet failure.

The can 1 may be opened by grasping pull ring portion 23 and raising the ring in a lever-like manner so that the pull ring 12 moves from the position of FIG. 6 ultimately to that of FIG. 7. During such movement, the initial bend at 33 and the final bend at 34 in the end member 4 occur as the end member metal is ruptured along main score line 10. The pull ring then is pulled upwardly further from the position of FIG. 7 to continue tearing the metal along score line 10 in each direction around the can until the panel portion 11 is completely removed.

Referring particularly to FIG. 9, the initial bend zone 33 forming the initial small smile, has a somewhat open trough-like shape, as shown in dot-dash lines. The trough-like shape has a central portion 33a extending between the outer ends 28 of the control beads 27 in a direction generally perpendicular to the axis of the pull ring. The end portions 331; of the initial bend zone 33, angle outwardly from the outer ends 28 of the control beads 27 to the ends 31a of the relieved Z-fold zone. The location of this initial bend zone 33 also is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 before bending occurs.

During the initial rupturing of the end member metal, as the pull ring nose moves inwardly of the can from the position of FIG. 6, the Z-fold area 31 is compressed to the cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 7. This change also is illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein the V- shape 26 of pull ring nose 25 reforms the fold metal layers as indicated at 37 in FIG. 11.

The nose 25 of pull ring 12 in assembled position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, overlies the first layer 15 of triple fold l4 and overlaps score line 10. During rupture of the panel portion 11 on score line 10, as pull ring 12 is manipulated from the position of FIG. 6 to that of FIG. 7, the V-shape 26 of nose 25 wipes across score line 10 and forms the substantial V-shaped indentation 37 in the triple fold l4, and particularly in the first layer 15 thereof (FIGS. 8, 9 and l 1). This reformed V-shape 37, as stated, is formed by the V-shape of the pull ring nose 25.

The protective triple fold 14 providing a hazardeliminating formation at the periphery at the removed panel portion 11, as well as the location of the score line 10 above and radially outward of the can bead 9, thus form a hazard-minimizing can structure; and as a result of the concepts of the invention, the advantages of a triple fold can are retained, while problems encountered in the manufacture thereof are avoided.

The concepts of the invention, including the relationship between the rivet 13, the score line 10, the pull ring structure, the relative location and arrangement of the control beads 27, and the relieved Z-fold zone 31, provide a structure which may be readily and easily opened without rivet or pull ring failure and without requiring increased metal thickness for a metal pull ring used for opening the can. In this manner, objectives of the invention are achieved in the construction of hazard-eliminating easily-opened full opening can construction.

Accordingly, the present improvements provide a can and can end construction wherein the removed panel portion has a hazard-eliminating triple metal thickness fold at its periphery, which panel may be torn from a can end member with a minimum of effort and without encountering rivet and pull ring failure, and without requiring a thickening of the pull ring metal to provide the ease of opening and to minimize rivet and pull ring failure; and thus, the invention provides a construction which solves problems that have arisen in the production and use of hazard-reducing full opening metal cans, primarily in the aluminum food products field, and therefore provides a construction which achieves the objectives and satisfies needs that have existed in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described since the features of the invention may be applied to different sized cans.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which the improved structure achieves the objectives, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations and sub-combinations are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a metal can end member for an easy opening metal can of a type in which the can end is adapted to be seamed to the can, in which the end member has a removable panel portion having a hazard-eliminating protective endless annular triple metal fold formation defined by a main score line, in which a pull ring is connected by rivet means to the removable panel portion, and in which the pull ring has a nose overlying the score line with the axis of the pull ring which passes through the rivet means and nose extending radially of the end member; the improvement including angularly arranged reinforcing control beads located beneath and covered by the pull ring and having inner and outer ends formed in the removable panel portion, one on either side of the rivet means; the control beads diverging inward with respect to the panel center from the outer bead ends located outboard of the rivet means and adjacent the triple fold formation to inner bead ends located inboard of and spaced a considerable distance from the rivet means; and the triple fold formation having a relieved Z-shaped fold zone extending beneath 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the triple fold formation throughout the remainder of its annular extent beyond the Z-shaped zone is compact with substantially parallel fold layers.

3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the outer and inner bead ends define respectively spaced initial and final bend areas on which the panel bends upon rupturing the can end member on the score line by manipulation of the pull ring.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the pull ring nose is located centrally of the Z-shaped zone.

5. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the initial bend area has a trough-like shape.

6. The construction defined in claim 5 in which the trough-like shape comprises a central bend portion extending between the outer ends of the control beads and end bend portions extending angularly from the outer ends of the control beads to the ends of the Z- shaped fold zone.

7. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the control beads are embossed downwardly in the panel portion.

tending between the outer control bead ends and parallel with the final bend area; and in which the troughlike shape has end portions extending angularly from the outer ends of the control beads to the ends of the Z-shaped fold zone. 

1. In a metal can end member for an easy opening metal can of a type in which the can end is adapted to be seamed to the can, in which the end member has a removable panel portion having a hazard-eliminating protective endless annular triple metal fold formation defined by a main score line, in which a pull ring is connected by rivet means to the removable panel portion, and in which the pull ring has a nose overlying the score line with the axis of the pull ring which passes through the rivet means and nose extending radially of the end member; the improvement including angularly arranged reinforcing control beads located beneath and covered by the pull ring and having inner and outer ends formed in the removable panel portion, one on either side of the rivet means; the control beads diverging inward with respect to the panel center from the outer bead ends located outboard of the rivet means and adjacent the triple fold formation to inner bead ends located inboard of and spaced a considerable distance from the rivet meanS; and the triple fold formation having a relieved Z-shaped fold zone extending beneath and to either side of the pull ring nose and having ends located adjacent the outer bead ends.
 2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the triple fold formation throughout the remainder of its annular extent beyond the Z-shaped zone is compact with substantially parallel fold layers.
 3. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the outer and inner bead ends define respectively spaced initial and final bend areas on which the panel bends upon rupturing the can end member on the score line by manipulation of the pull ring.
 4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the pull ring nose is located centrally of the Z-shaped zone.
 5. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the initial bend area has a trough-like shape.
 6. The construction defined in claim 5 in which the trough-like shape comprises a central bend portion extending between the outer ends of the control beads and end bend portions extending angularly from the outer ends of the control beads to the ends of the Z-shaped fold zone.
 7. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the control beads are embossed downwardly in the panel portion.
 8. The construction defined in claim 3 in which the final bend area extends substantially straight across the inner bead ends spaced from the rivet means and terminates at its intersection with the triple fold formation.
 9. The construction defined in claim 8 in which the initial bend area has a trough-like shape; in which the trough-like shape comprises a central bend portion extending between the outer control bead ends and parallel with the final bend area; and in which the trough-like shape has end portions extending angularly from the outer ends of the control beads to the ends of the Z-shaped fold zone. 